Eric Flint's 1632 & Beyond Issue #6 by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flint's Shards Inc.
Published: 2024-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

Top of the seventh, and the Mountaineers were up two to one. One out, with a Saalfeld Dukes batter on second. Giovanni could see that Coach Flannery was worried. With a Duke on second, in so-called scoring position, a line drive into center field could bring the boy home and tie the game. The Mountaineers were not known for great defense, but they had to hold firm. With a loss in extra innings, the Mountaineers would be finished.

A Saalfeld Dukes batter stepped to the plate, adjusted himself for the pitch, and waited. The Mountaineers' best pitcher, Aaron Rollison Wendell, wound up the throw and sent it across home plate.

"Strike!"

Giovanni stood in the dugout and leaned against the fence. "Andiamo, Aaron," he said in Italian. "Colpirlo."

Another pitch… "Strike!"

Two strikes. One more, and the boy on second would have a much harder time scoring and tying the game.

Aaron wound up the pitch and threw it. The Duke at the plate swung and hit the ball, but it was a low bouncer between second and third. Jerry leaped to his left, snagged the ball, collected himself, and threw the boy out at first.

Now, two outs, with one Duke still on second. Giovanni smiled. One more out, and the game would be over. But Armin Fischer was up, and Giovanni's heart began to beat.

Armin was truly the Dukes' best player. Kind of like Big Boy Powers, only a little smaller and not quite as strong on the swing. He was infamous for his singles and doubles, and he carried himself with a swagger reminiscent of the 4-Baggers' Baumann twins. Armin was formidable.

Aaron seemed worried as well. He'd pitched to Armin a couple times already, but now was the moment. Giovanni shouted out encouragement to their pitcher and banged the dugout fence as Aaron wound up the first pitch and let it fly.

Armin swung and sent the ball bouncing into center field.

The Dukes' player on second ran to third. Mountaineer center fielder Jimmy Shaver bobbled the ball, but recovered quickly and threw it to second baseman Elias Becker, who then threw it to third. But the Dukes' player on second had already rounded third and was racing home.

A foolish move, Giovanni thought as he shouted support from the dugout. He'll never make it.

For a moment, Lucas was confused as to where to throw the ball next, but the third base coach told him to throw it home, and so he did. Alex Dorrman caught it. The Duke runner paused, slid down, and tried to turn and run back to third. Alex threw the ball back to third. Lucas caught it and ran towards the runner to tag him out. The boy turned again and ran to home plate. Lucas threw the ball back to Alex.

Back and forth, back and forth, until the Dukes' player had no room to maneuver. He tried dodging, but Alex held out his arm and tagged the boy out.

The Grantville crowd went wild. Giovanni's throat hurt as he shouted his joy.

The game was over, and the Mountaineers now had six wins and four losses.

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